Improvement in binder-platforms for harvesters



, C. L. TRAVIS.

BINDER PLATFORMS FOR HARVES'IIERS.

No.17 5,786. Patented April 4, 1876.

WI 1 JV 1:S SES I JV VENTOR L By ,Zis .Attorney NPEFERS. fHOTO-UTHCGRAPHER WASNINGTOM D. C.

CHARLES L. TRAVIS, or GREAT VALLEY, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO THE GRAIN-BINDER COMPANY, OF FREMONT, oEro;

IMPROV EMENT IN BINDER-PLATFORMS FOR HARYESTERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 175,786, dated April 4, 1876; application filed July 23, 1875.

To all whom it may concern 'Be it known that I, OHARLEs L. TRAVIS, of Great Valley, county of Oattaraugus, State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Binder-Platforms for Harvesters, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, making part of this specification, in which Figure 1 represents a perspective view of so much of a harvesting-machine as is necessary to show my invention; and Fig. 2 shows a rear elevation of the machine-truck with the platform, drag-bar, or adjusting-lever, and the balancing-bar to the binding-platform in section.

Similar letters of reference denote corresponding parts in both figures.

The invention consists in combining the binders platform, which is hinged to the grain or cutter platform, with themain frame by means of a balancing-bar, to which the binderplatform is pivoted, and which, in turn, is pivoted at its forward end to the main frame, and is supported at its rear end by a caster-wheel in such manner as to support the outer or stubble side of said binders platform, without interfering with its freedom to conform to the movements 'of the grain-platform.

It further consists in a novel manner of combining the balancingbar with the main frame, as hereinafter described, whereby the weight of the binder-platform, which is arranged behind the main frame, is carried forward of the axle of said main frame, and tends to depress the pole or tongue of the machine upon the neck-yoke of the team, instead of lifting the same.

In the accompanying drawing, A represents the main frame, mounted upon the usual independent driving and carrying wheels B B; U, the pole or tongue of the machine, and D the cutter-platform, which, with the usual cutting apparatus applied, is hinged at one side of the machine by any of the usual or preferred coupling devices for that purpose. Ordinarily I prefer to attach to the inner end of the platform, or to the shoe at that point, a rocking-lever, E, the forward end of which is sustained at any desired adjustment by a rack,

F, attached to the inner front corner of the main frame A, and by means of which devices the an le of the platform may be regulated as desired. Behind the main frame, and at the inner or delivery side of the platform D, is the binder-platform G, with its side or edge adjacent to the platform D, hinged to and supported by the dist-lntrging side or end of said platform in such manner as to be held always in the same plane therewith. The outer or stubble side of the binder-platform Gr is provided with an uprightboard or fender, H, and to the outer face of this fender, or to the outer edge of the platform G, midway of its length,

is rigidly secured a bracket, I, provided with a stud or axle, J, which, at its outer end, has a bearing in a bar, K. The bar K, at its forward end, is pivoted to the main frame, and has its rear endsupported by a caster-wheel, L, running'on the surface of the ground.

By this arrangement, the weight of the outer side of the binder-platform G is carried by the bar K, which, while following the surface of the ground, transfers such Weight in part to the main frame, while the pivotal connection between said bar and the platform Gr permits the rocking of the latterto conform to the movements of the grain-platform D.

For carrying the Weight of the binder-platform, thus transferred to the main frame forward of the axle of the main frame, the bar K is extended forward of said axle, and has its pivotal connection at K, with the front outer corner of the main frame in advance of the axle. To the rear end of the frame a spring, M, is secured, its outer end resting on the bar K, said spring, by its tension, tending to lift the rear end of the main frame with the Weight of the couplings of the cutting apparatus and grain-plattbrm thereto attached, andto throw such weight on the bar K.

By this arrangement not only is the Weight of the reaper attachments balanced upon the main frame, but the drag upon the platform side is greatly relieved, and in part transferred to the opposite side'to the balancingbar K, thus, in a measure, overcoming side draft.

The pivotal connection of the bar K may be placed farther back upon the main frame by using aspring, m, of increased stifiness or tension, or, by the use of a torsion-spring at the pivotal connection, said pivot may, if preferred, be placed in rear of the axle, instead of in front, with the same result, the principal object being to so connect the binder-platform with the main frame as to balance the latter, or nearly balance it, upon its axle.

The binder designed to be represented at G on the drawing is of the kind described in Letters Patent granted to me March 9, 1875,

I No. 160,732; but of course the binder employed, as also the other parts of the machine not particularly described, may be of any usual or preferred construction and arrangements.

Having now described my invention, what CHARLES L. TRAVIS.

Witnesses H. D. GORDON, L. L.'TERRY. 

